Archive for the ‘Diabetes’ Category

Diabetes in Children

Posted by Charlie Prost on February 27th, 2010

Diabetes in children is a disease that is severe in nature but can be managed through medication, use of insulin injection or healthy lifestyle of your choice. This is the result if the body is not able to regulate blood sugar levels by itself. It is caused by lack of enough insulin, a hormone which breaks down and changes glucose into the blood. Diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) and diabetes insipidus (type I diabetes) are the two kinds of diabetes. Type I diabetes is the kind that attack children.

Common symptoms that can be seen in children with diabetes are thirst, loss of weight, headaches, frequent urination, pain in the abdomen and problems in behavior.

In order not to acquire diabetes in children, high blood sugar level must be prevented. Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar happens if the sugar (glucose) level goes up above normal. It is difficult to maintain the level of the child because of the speedy growth during teen years.

Elevated readings tend to increase gradually, usually in a period of hours or days. But if you take large meals or skip insulin dose it will increase rapidly (typically within a few hours). Gradual elevation in blood sugar can make someone tired and thirsty. Continued elevation can cause harm in the heart, eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves. If the blood sugar of your child goes on raising like his or her kidneys increase the production of urine, dehydration will occur. It is risky because he or she will suffer coma and eventually dies when your child becomes dehydrated severely.

There are three steps that could assist you to get rid of problems in high blood sugar:

  • Regularly, test the blood sugar level of your child especially in the duration of illnesses.The symptoms of high blood sugar level like fatigue, increase in urination and thirst are not seen in every child.
  • Consult your doctor whenever there is a frequent elevation in the readings or when the level stays consistently above normal range.
  • To prevent dehydration, advice your child to take extra water or non-caffeinated and drinks that are sugar-free.

Special Child Diabetic Care
It is very important to have a regular monitor of blood sugar. The most appropriate times are during meals and at night before going to sleep. Normal scale of blood glucose is 80 to 120. If you have elevated reading, insulin is needed to bring down the level. Eating carbohydrates and proteins are needed to ensure that your level will go up, if your blood glucose level is below the scale of 80. Change in diet or medication or even insulin scale, is needed when your blood glucose fluctuates.This is the reason why checking up the blood glucose regularly is very important.

Annual examination of the eyes is needed if you are diabetic. Diabetic retinopathy is a severe condition if not stopped will lead to blindness. The small blood vessels in the eyes erupt or burst if you have diabetic retinopathy. Visiting the ophthalmologist is necessary to check your eyes also.

Make sure the good circulation of the lower extremities especially the legs and feet. You can use special shoes and socks to aid you. Be aware of some sores that will develop in your feet. There is a tendency for diabetic patients for slow healing and the sores will lead to cutting of toes, feet and even legs.

Another side effect of diabetes in children is kidney problem and if this happens it will require dialysis. All of these can be prevented if you maintain the normal level of your blood glucose by eating healthy and continue to exercise regularly and have a healthy lifestyle.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Posted by Canadian health care on December 30th, 2009

Are you worried that you are suffering from diabetes?Are you thinking that either you or someone you love is experiencing some signs of diabetes? If your answer is yes then the good thing is that you have reached the right place. As following article will guide you in such a way that by the time you finish reading it you’ll have a clearer picture in your mind.

Here you’ll find brief outline of signs and symptoms of diabetes. If any one or more than one of these symptoms are experienced then it is important that you should consult the doctor as early as possible to have the blood test done.

Diabetic Symptoms

Whenever the diabetes sets in the blood sugar level of the body start to rise. The increased blood sugar level causes different symptoms and signs of diabetes. Most common diabetic symptoms are:

Polyuria: The body in an attempt to get rid of excessive glucose in the blood draws extra water from the body tissues. The result is that an increased amount of urine is produced. An adult person may have to wake up several times during the night to urinate. If the problem is experienced by a child suddenly he may start to wet the bed.

Polydipsia: The body needs to replace that too much of water that has been expelled by the body in the form of urine. This need of the body results in excessive urination.

Polyphagia: The body’s need of energy cause this signs of diabetes. The leading cause is that cells of the body are unable to draw glucose from the blood. The cells than feel energy starved and give the signal of being hungry to brain.

Exhaustion, Fatigue and Tiredness: This sign of diabetes occurs when the body is unable to use the provided sugar as cells are unable to convert it into energy. The diabetic symptom is further intensified if the body becomes unable to store the consumed carbohydrates in the form of energy.

Recurrent Infections and Slow Healing Cuts And Bruises: The perfect breeding environment for yeast and bacteria are high sugar surroundings. The women that are suffering from high-level of blood sugar most of the times develop urinary tract infection or vaginal infection.

Numbness or Tingling In Hand And Feet: The damage to the blood nerves caused by consistent high blood sugar results in tingling or numbness sensation.

Trouble Getting Erection: Nerve damage and poor circulatory system is again the culprit here.

Dry and Itchy Skin: Tiny crystals of sugar just beneath the surface of the skin cause the diabetics to feel itchy.

Blurriness in Vision: There can be microscopic bleeding in retina of the diabetics. This may cause blurriness in visions.

Dehydration: If the fluids of the body are not properly replaced; it may cause dehydration

Serious Diabetic Symptoms: Some serious signs of diabetes include

  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Fruity smell in breath
  • Flushed skin

Information About Type 2 Diabetes

Posted by admin on December 23rd, 2009

Type 2 diabetes formerly known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult onset diabetes is a condition that is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Initially this type of diabetic disease can be managed with a controlled diet and exercise. However, when symptoms become evident, this condition requires medication to keep the blood sugar levels under control. Research shows that 90% of those affected by diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common type of diabetes that affects people above forty years of age. With rising child obesity rates, Type 2 diabetes is found to affect children too. Obese and overweight people are easy targets for this type of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body does not respond in a proper manner to insulin. When muscle, liver and fat cells do not respond to insulin, the result is known as insulin resistance. The blood sugar, which should get in to the cells remains in the blood stream thus resulting in increased blood sugar levels. Increased sugar levels may have some serious impacts on your health in the end.

Cause for this type of diabetic condition: There is no specific cause that can be identified for Type 2 diabetes. Studies indicate certain general causes such as:
Natural Treatment of type 2 diabetes
Obesity and over weight
• Family history and genetics
• Age factor
• Poor diet
• Low activity level

Symptoms of this type of Diabetic Condition. Generally, people suffering from this diabetic condition exhibit no apparent symptoms. Certain symptoms that may indicate the presence of this diabetic condition:

Erectile dysfunction
• Slow healing infection
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Increased appetite and thirst
• Increased urination

Treatment for this type of disease. The main goal of treatment for this type of disease is to lower the blood sugar levels. Apart from this, treatment must also ensure that any undue complications related to diabetes must be completely eliminated. Doctors prescribe a proper diabetic diet and routine exercise for this type of diabetes.

Those suffering from diabetes should learn the basic skills of managing the condition. This knowledge will help avoid future complications and help in preventing the requirement for frequent medical assistance. The basic necessary skills include:

• The right type of food to be eaten and regular meal timings.
• How to test blood sugar level and how to record it.
• How to recognize low and high blood sugar levels.
• How to give immediate treatment for both low and high blood sugar levels.
• How to take medication.
• Where and how to store diabetes supplies.

It may take several months to learn these basic skills, but it is essential to gain knowledge on this as it will be helpful during times of emergency. Educating yourself about Type 2 diabetes and treatment options will definitely help you prevent complications. The most important aspect to ensure for an individual suffering from Type 2 diabetic condition is to learn to lead a quality life. It is simple and easy living with diabetes, when you are equipped with comprehensive information on the condition.

Diabetes and Obesity

Posted by Health articles on December 16th, 2009

Is it possible that a natural sugar which is found in fruit could be one of the main causes of childhood obesity and of diabetes? It would probably be foolish to suggest that any one thing is THE cause, but a 10 week study including 16 subjects on a strictly controlled diet, has produced evidence that fructose is at least one of the causes. The study found that fructose, a natural sugar found in small amounts in fruit, is a significant player in the problem. Fructose can be produced very cheaply from corn. As a result it is used to sweeten thousands of products such as soft drinks, cakes and pastries, cereals, yogurt and even salad dressings, to mention just a few.

Not only that but a recent study has determined that fructose, consumed in large quantities, produces a layer of fat cells around the heart, liver and certain other organs. Fructose is not digested in the way that other sugars are. It arrives undigested and intact in the liver where it results in a number of abnormal reactions including breakdown of the messages which result in the body either burning or storing fat. A molecular biologist who led this study has stated that this is the first evidence that fructose increases diabetes and heart disease.

Fructose represents 5 to 10 percent of the weight of fruit. It is produced from corn by a process of synthesis which produces a corn syrup with 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. This syrup is six times sweeter than cane sugar and costs less. This high fructose corn syrup is used in the production of many food and drink products. Glucose, unlike fructose, is digested in the normal way and the study found that it did not cause these problems, in subjects who consumed glucose only, with no fructose.
Chorionic villus sampling
Sugar is a product which the human body does not process well. We are not designed to consume the large quantities of sugar that have become a part of our modern diet. Whether that sugar be sucrose (cane sugar), fructose or glucose it is definitely advisable to keep its consumption to a minimum. It remains to be proven whether consumption of fructose in its natural form in fruit is equally dangerous. My gut instinct tells me that fruit consumption is not only safe but is also healthy, since mankind has consumed fruits and vegetables for millions of years.

The Diabetes Statistics

Posted by Health articles on October 20th, 2009

In the western world, with obesity levels reaching all time highs, the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is growing at staggering rates. And unfortunately will only get worse. Even between 2001 to 2002 the diagnosis of diabetes rose from 5.5% to 6.5% in just one year!

Overall over 12 million US citizens have been diagnosed with diabetes and at least half that number have it but don’t know about it. And it’s estimated that another 12 million plus people are on the fast track to Type 2 Diabetes because of rising glucose levels.

Not knowing if you have this disease and the symptoms is the worst, because untreated the repercussions are terrible. These can include blindness, amputations, circulation problems and ultimately an earlier death! For most people type 2 diabetes is almost avoidable.

Doctors usually say eat better, eat less and do more exercise. The numbers show that this advice is being ignored as many Americans are overweight or obese. The statistics show that people are living for many years longer and this seems to be an upward trend. Unfortunately this will not continue if type 2 diabetes is not controlled.

Sadly, diabetes is not just a USA problem. It is spreading worldwide at epidemic rates.

So if you are currently suffering from the following symptoms;- excessive desire to drink, frequent need to urinate, increased lethargy and fatigue. Excessive hunger, severe irritation, itching, blurred vision and sudden weight loss. Take an hour out of your day and go see your doctor immediately.

Who else would like a natural diabetes treatment that actually gets diabetes or pre diabetes under control?

That seems like a tall order. About half the population of adults in middle age (45 to 70) will struggle with diabetes. The rate is increasing. And the consequences are potentially devastating – kidney disease, blindness, and possible death.

So, what’s the biggest thing to focus on?

Consider this.

High blood glucose (sugar) is the heart of diabetes, it’s what is causing the damage to your body, overloading your kidneys, making your eyes swell, making your body tear down fat and muscle cells.

What lowers blood glucose? What’s the most effective natural diabetes treatment?

Exercising more and eating less. Exercise burns up glucose in place of insulin. Eating less puts less sugar in your system to begin with and as you lose weight your decrease insulin resistance.

Why is that important?

Your cells need glucose. It’s the fuel for your body’s furnace. Insulin is what gets your cells to open the gates to blood glucose.

You eat too much sugar over time and your cells become resistant to insulin; so they don’t allow the glucose in; they starve; and the glucose floats around in your blood and eventually your urine and wreaks havoc.

So, get this problem.

If you have diabetes (or you’re developing it) either you body doesn’t produce enough insulin (type 1) or your cells are becoming resistant to it (type 2), so you have too much sugar floating in your blood.

Eat less, you get less sugar in. Eat less, and your insulin resistance drops and your cells use more of the sugar and less floats around in your blood.

In fact, when Dr. Alan Rubin (the author of one of the leading desk references on diabetes) was asked for the simplest diet as a natural diabetes treatment, what do you suppose he said?

  • Cut your portions in half.
  • There’s a lot more you can do. But that’s the basics.

Now the good news.

If you don’t have a track record of success on a diet, you can still be successful with diabetes.

There are natural diabetes treatments that are optimized for what you need to do to fight diabetes: suppress your appetite, help insulin do it’s job, and attract glucose transporters so the sugar doesn’t float around in your blood.

Type 2 diabetes is also known as adult onset diabetes. It is a chronic condition that has life-threatening implications. Warning signs and symptoms include blurred vision, increased urination (volume and frequency), fatigue, excessive thirst and increased appetite. You may also discover dark skin in the creases of your body. Common places are in the folds of the neck and armpits. These are all signs of insulin resistance or that your pancreas has ceased making insulin.

Normally, your body will excrete insulin to clear excess sugar out of your blood so that it can be used as cell fuel. If you develop type 2 diabetes, then your body is no longer able to metabolize sugar. The blood sugar stays high because insulin cannot move it into the cells, where it would normally be used as fuel. The fatigue comes when the cells cannot get the sugar for energy. Your cells then send signals to your brain that you need to eat sugary or starchy foods to give them the fuel that they need to function. So, you become hungry, eat more, sleep more, and make the problem worse.

The number one risk factor for type 2 diabetes is being overweight. Eating a diet high in sugar or starchy foods will cause you to become overweight and put you at higher risk for developing this condition. To understand how sugar lead to diabetes, we turn to the liver.

Normally, you eat fruits, vegetables and proteins. Your body slowly breaks these things down to provide your cells with sugar. So why is eating sugar directly so bad? The answer has to do with the speed in which the sugar hits the bloodstream. Simple sugars and processed foods quickly turn to glucose and fill up the bloodstream. Whenever your body has more fuel than it needs, it stores the excess in the liver.

Your liver becomes filled to capacity and then turns the sugar into fatty acids to clear them out and distribute them around the body. At first, the fat goes where it is supposed to, around the thighs, hips, upper arms and buttocks. When those areas become filled, then the fat goes to your organs instead.

This chain of events can easily and quickly turn into diabetes. It is very hard to control your appetite and cravings for sugar when your body thinks that it needs it so badly. The more times you give in, the bigger you will get, again, making the problem worse.

If you have type 2 diabetes, then your body is under constant stress and continually produces cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes even more fat to build up around the organs in an effort to protect them from the free radicals that the disease is creating. Because high levels of sugars cannot react correctly with proteins, free radicals are produced all over your body at an alarming rate. They can quickly cause strokes, cancer, damage nerves and deteriorate blood vessels. It is believed that the free radicals are to blame for many amputations that are necessary after vessels and nerves are damaged.

You need to rid your body of these free radicals and excess cortisol daily. To do this, you will need to supplement your healthy diet with vitamin A, C and E (remember “ACE”). Higher doses of vitamins and supplements are necessary to maintain immunity and clear free radicals in diabetics. Talk to your doctor about your condition before you buy vitamins and start a vitamins and supplements routine.

Diabetes control

Posted by Canadian health care on September 18th, 2009

Every person uses food used for energy and growth but a metabolic disorder called diabetes stops this from phenomenon. Glucose is essential in only if us with sufficient energy used for our every day tasks. Diabetes interrupts this function of glucose operating as it should be in our bodies. If absent unattended, the levels of glucose in the bloodstream can give rise to dangerous cost.

Here are two types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, which is moreover called juvenile beginning diabetes or insulin-dependent someplace the body completely stops producing in the least insulin, this method insulin be obliged to be given to the diabetic on a daily basis in support of them to live. Insulin is essential in that it acts as a regulator to the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. The second form of diabetes as a rule affects big people, this happens when the body cannot fabricate its own insulin or that which it does produce, it is unable to make proper use of it.

Energy is required by our body, which the body obtains from food that it converts into sugar. Too much glucose taking part in our bloodstream can give birth to particular serious trait special effects such as heart and kidney disease sightlessness, and on occasion amputation. By sticking to a diabetes health care regime, most of these conditions can be helped, and these conditions will vary form person to person but generally ought to find out improvements with some complaints halted altogether. Managing this condition means changing your lifestyle to suit your condition any medication that has been prescribed, this means maintaining the correct level of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood fat along with giving up cigarettes.

This also includes running your weight to keep contained by your height – weight category, which will be enormously advantageous in dropping your blood pressure. Diabetes is a disease that is enduring and have got to be managed and kept under control. Each year there are over five hundred thousand new cases of diabetes.

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be quite a shock at firstly but it is controllable, and one of the first ways to get along is your diet. Once we understand how are body breaks down the food groups we consume, it will help in planning meals and the types of foods will benefit. What we eat is eventually broken down into sugar, so sweets and fruits enter the bloodstream very quickly. Starches, i.E., carbohydrates take anywhere from one or two hours to break down, depending on the type of carbohydrate. Proteins and fats follow taking roughly four hours and six to eight hours respectfully. A diet plan for diabetes is various with all person according to the nutrition wanted and the type of diabetes a person has. With attention to the diet, type of food intake, and constant exercise, expand the capacity to control the blood sugar with little dependence of medication.

There are many diabetics living favorable, productive lives by simply taking charge of themselves and paying attention to making changes where they need to be made. If you have had an unexpected gain in weight and/or your energy levels have drastic swings, go get checked, for you and your loved ones.

Homeopathic Remedies For Diabetes

Posted by admin on September 11th, 2009

Principles of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is another branch of medicine that focuses on curative substances that are derived from the same elements that caused the symptom of the disease. The study of homeopathy was founded by Samuel Hahnemann in 1746 and the idea proliferated in year 1825 when it was introduced in the United States.

Homeopathic remedies for diabetes are governed by homeopathy’s main principles indicated below:

1. Principle of Single Medicine. This idea tells us that there is one remedy that can cover all aspects of treatment. It further discusses that treatment for every single symptom in unnecessary.

2. Law of Infinitesimals. This governs the idea that volume or large quantity is not a determining factor in treating the disease. Using small amounts or small doses particularly from natural herbs and vegetables are safe and effective than large doses which may only create complications.

3. Law of Similars. This is founded on the thought that “like cures like” or using a treatment that actually produces the symptoms of the disease being treated.

With homeopathic remedies for diabetes, the natural compounds from plants, fruits and vegetables are used as supplement for diabetic patients. They are good resources of anti-oxidants and insulin like elements which gives you an all natural and total treatment that homeopathy endorses.

Homeopathic remedies for diabetes are really not just for this illness but aims to regain the health of the entire body system. Regulation of the amount of glucose in the body can take up about two years if you utilize homeopathic remedies for diabetes. But this must be coupled with the right exercise and dietary adjustments. Check Diabetes Reversal Report to know about alternative treatments to medications.

Diabetes Blood Glucose Levels

Posted by admin on August 17th, 2009

Blood glucose levels are very important to a diabetic and their physician. This is a way of determining how much insulin or medication one should take, how their diet needs to be adjusted and how their body is reacting to the changes. As a diabetic, you will monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis so that you are able to maintain a healthy life.

A majority of the time, it is said that normal blood glucose levels are between 80 and 120, depending upon where you look. Other guides state between 70 and 110 or 90 and 130. Listen to your physician as they will tell you what your specific target range is. With children, usually physicians will give a leeway for a specific target range and then work towards the above listed blood glucose levels.
Blood glucose levels tesing
Your diet helps you to maintain your blood glucose levels. If you eat excessive amounts, your blood glucose levels will rise. If you don’t eat enough, your blood glucose levels will fall. They will also fall because of exercise or activity and even because of heat in the summer time. You will want to keep accurate records of your blood glucose levels so that you will learn how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, environments and learn to adjust accordingly. Blood sugar levels will rise usually when you are sick; have an infection. Now you can see why it is so important to monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis.

Hyperglycemia
When blood sugar levels are high, it is considered hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a serious condition that if not taken care of can lead to a Diabetic coma, diabetic retinopathy, ketones in the urine and so on. These are just some of the very serious conditions that can result from hyperglycemia.

To get your blood sugar levels to drop, usually insulin is required. It also helps to drink plenty of water which will also flush out ketones if present. You do not want to drop your blood sugar levels too fast; a slow, steady fall is preferred. Taking small insulin dosages every few hours until the levels have returned to normal, is preferred.

Hypoglycemia
When blood sugar levels are low, it is considered hypoglycemia. This is also extremely dangerous. One can pass out from hypoglycemia and if not corrected promptly, they could pass away. There are many different signs of hypoglycemia and as you begin to learn how your own body reacts, you will see that maybe how you are affected is not the same as another diabetic. This is why regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is extremely important.

As a diabetic, it would be extremely advisable to carry around some sort of “low blood sugar kit”. This could be a tube of gel glucose which can be purchased at the pharmacy or glucagon pen (has to prescribed), a candy bar or so on. Teach loved ones how to administer and/or use and where it is located, just in case you do pass out and cannot administer the sugar yourself.